Fire prevention device for oil wells



Sept. 22A, 1931. H. L. slMMoNDs FIRE PREVENTION DEVICE FOR OIL WELLS Filed Aug. 18, 1930 Patented Sept. 22y 1931 UNITED STA HARRY L. SIMMONDS, F

sAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA' FIRE PREVENTION DEVICE FOB OIL WELLS Application led August v18, 1930. Serial No. 475,923.

My invention relates to iire prevention devices for oil wells and the objects of my invention are:

First: To provide a device of this class which preventsoil well fires caused by stones or metallic objects striking they walls of the well casing.

Second: To provide a device of this class which may be attached to any conventional w oil well casing.

' Third: To provide` a device of this class which in no wise interferes with the drilling or other operations around the oil well, andJ Fourth: To provide'a device of this class w which is particularl simple of. construction, durable, eliicient in its action and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of 2a certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as Vwill be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part ofl this application,

" in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the'device with the base portion of the oil 3o well casing shown fragmentarily; Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse `sectional view through 2-2 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view substantially through 3-3 of Fig. 1. e

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

When an oil well is equipped with my fire prevention device, the upper section of the oil well casing C terminates a few feet below its `normal upperend and receives an adapter 1. Screwed into the adapter 1l is a somewhat larger pipe or shell 2, which continues from the oil well casing C and forms the shell for my fire prevention device. The major portion of the shell 2 is lined with a thick cylin. der of rubber 3, or other somewhat yieldable non-metallic device which will not cause a spark upon being struck by any object.

The cylinder or sheath of rubber has an inner diameter equal. to the diameter of the oil well casing so that the bore of the casing remains constant as shown in`Fig. 1. The

sheath 3 may be provided .with 'reinforcing 4 y as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. y 55 The upper end of the shell 2 flares outwardly slightly as indicated by 2a. This portion is provided with a removable sheath 5 also increasing in diameter toward its upper end. This removable sheath is also provided with reinforcing 6. The upper end of the rejmovable sheath is provided with a ange 5a,

which overhangs the upper end 2b of the shell 2, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 3.

I Between the removable sheath and the shell, there may be provided a coating of non- I sticking material 7, which prevents the removable sheath from .vulcanizing onto the shell. This material may be powder Vor a liquid a plication as desired.

The xed sheath 3, however, need not be provided with the non-sticking material as it is preferred to have the fixed sheath 3 vulcanize itself onto the shell 2, or be otherwise secured thereto. In addition, this portion of the 'shell 2 may be provided with deten'ts 2c to further hold the sheath in place as shown in Fig. 3. The detents may be in the form of annular ridges or small projections, or the surface may be roughened as by serrations.

An oil Well equipped with my tire prevention device cannot be set vafire by sparks caused when the drilling equipment or rocks ,should strike the well casing in the presence 'of gas passing out of the Well. 4 The only part of the well casing in which such danger exists is the upper portion thereof near the supply of oxygen at the mouth of the well, which is required to support combustion. Thus only a relatively short portion `of thewell casing need be provided withmy device.

The outwardly flared portion 2a of'the shell enables tools to be inserted in the casing Without undue Wear on the removable section ot the sheath. The flange portion 5a of the sheath provides tools 0r the like from striking the end of the shell when being lowered into the casing. The ixed sheath 3, being within the mouth of the well, receives very little Wear from the tools, the W0 principal wear coming on the removable section of the sheath adjacent the end of the shell.

Should the removable section, in spite of the non-sticking material 7, become fastened within the shell, it may be readily removed by placing hooks or a ring underneath the I overhanging flange 5a and hoisting upwardly with the Well hoist. This is facilitated bythe slight flaring of the shell.

Though I have shown and .described a particular construction, combination and ar-V rangement of parts and portions', I do not wish to be limited to thisparticular 'construction, combination and arrangement, but

desire to include in the scope of my invenl I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettion, the construction. combination and arrangement substantially as set forth. inthe appended claims.

Having thus 4described my invention, what ters Patent is:

1. In a fire prevention device for oil wells,

lthe combination with an oil well casing of a shell continuing from the upper end of said casing, and yieldable non-metallic lining for said shell.

2. In a fire prevention device for oil wells, the combination with an oil well casing of a shell continuing upwardly therefrom, and

a spark prevention lining for said shell.

3. In a fire prevention device for'oil Wells, the combination with an oil Well casing of a shell continuing upwardly from the said oil well casing, a fixed sheath lining the lower portion of said shell, and a removable sheath lining the upper portion of said shell, said vsheath formed of spark preventing material.

4. In a fire preventiondevice for oil wells, the combination with an oil well casing of a lining provided in the upper portion of said casing, said lining formedof spark preventing material.

l 5. In a. fire prevention device for oil wells,

the combination with Aan oil well casing of a shell extending upwardly therefrom, said shell being of a larger diameter than said casing, a sheath fitted within said shell having an inside diameter equal to the inside diameter of said oil well casing, said sheath formed of spark preventing material.

6. In a fire prevention device for' oil wells,

' the combi-nation with an oil well casing of a shell extending upwardly therefrom, said shell being of a larger diameter than said casing, a sheath fitted within ysaid shell having an inside diameter equal to the inside diameter of said oil well casing, said sheath formed of spark preventing material, said sheath extending above vand over the end of said shell.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, this 7th day of August, 1930.

HARRY L. SIMJSIONDS. 

